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'''Thomas Charles Feeney II''' (born May 21, 1958) is a [[Republican]] [[politician]] from [[Florida]]. Feeney has represented Florida's 24th congressional district, which encompasses a portion of eastern Central Florida since 2003. He lost in the 2008 elections to Suzanne Kosmas for [[congress]].  

 

 

'''Thomas Charles "Tom" Feeney III''' (born May 21, 1958) is a [[Republican]] [[politician]] from [[Florida]] and a former [[U.S. Representative]] from Florida's 24th [[congressional district]], which encompasses a portion of eastern Central Florida. He lost in the 2008 elections to [[Suzanne Kosmas]] for [[Congress]].  

==Background==

==Background==

Feeney was born in [[Philadephia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Graduating from [[Pennsylvania State University]] in 1980, he acquired a law degree from the [[University of Pittsburgh School of Law]] in 1983, soon afterwards moving to Oviedo county, Florida. He opened and still operates a private practice.

Feeney was born in Philadephia, [[Pennsylvania]]. Graduating from [[Pennsylvania State University]] in 1980, he earned a law degree from the [[University of Pittsburgh]] School of Law in 1983, and soon afterwards moving to Oviedo County, Florida. He opened and still operates a private practice there.

==Political History==

==Political History==

Feeney is one of the most [[conservative]] members of the [[House of Representatives]]. He was elected to the Florida House in 1990 as a Republican, serving two terms before running for [[Lieutenant Governor|lieutenant governor]] of Florida. Being the running mate of [[Jeb Bush]], they narrowly lost by a small margin. Feeney returned to the House in 1996 and eventually became [[Speaker]] in 2000.

Feeney was one of the most [[conservative]] members of the [[United States House of Representatives]]. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1990 as a Republican, serving two terms before running for [[Lieutenant Governor|lieutenant governor]] of Florida. The running mate of [[Jeb Bush]], the team lost by a small margin. Feeney returned to the House in 1996 and eventually became [[Speaker]] in 2000.

Though a slight controversy arose regarding two congressional districts being gained in the 2000 Florida [[census]], alleging Feeney drew the district for himself.<ref>http://www.fairvote.org/redistricting/reports/remanual/flnews4.htm#diaz-balart</ref> However, he was elected in 2002, 2004 (unopposed), and 2006 with 58%.

A controversy arose regarding two congressional districts gained in the 2000 United States [[census]], where Feeney allegedly drew the district for himself.<ref>http://www.fairvote.org/redistricting/reports/remanual/flnews4.htm#diaz-balart</ref> However, he was elected in 2002, 2004 (unopposed), and 2006 with 58%.

The '''Washington Waste Watchers''', a group Feeney founded, monitors and combats wasteful government spending. He is also known for the '''Conservative Check Card''' - allowing fellow Republicans to identify [[legislation]] to be compliant with conservative principles.

The ''Washington Waste Watchers'', a group Feeney founded, monitors and combats wasteful government spending. He was also known for the ''Conservative Check Card'' - which allowed fellow Republicans to identify [[legislation]] to be compliant with conservative principles.

==Corruption Investigation==

==Corruption Investigation==

Since 2003, Feeney has been under fire for corruption charges, which includes accepting a trip from now-convicted [[lobbyist]] [[Jack Abramoff]] to Scotland, and failure to disclose rental property in his 2003 financial reporting.<ref>http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/summaries/feeney.php</ref>

Beginning in 2003, Feeney was under fire for corruption charges, which included accepting a trip from now-convicted [[lobbyist]] [[Jack Abramoff]] to Scotland, and failure to disclose rental property in his 2003 financial reporting.<ref>http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/summaries/feeney.php</ref>

Although Feeney had admitted to the trip to [[Scotland]] as a "rookie mistake"<ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/755441.html</ref>, later paying for the trip, and submitted a campaign ad in the 2008 elections admitting to his past, his tactic failed. Kosmos won by a large margin - 57 percent to 41 percent - the largest margin of defeat for a Republican incumbent in 2008.

Although Feeney admitted the trip to [[Scotland]] was a "rookie mistake"<ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/755441.html</ref>, later paid for the trip himself, and submitted a campaign ad in the 2008 elections admitting to his past, his tactic failed. Kosmas won by a large margin - 57 percent to 41 percent - the largest margin of defeat for a Republican incumbent in 2008.

==External Links==

==External Links==

[http://www.house.gov/feeney/ Tom Feeney, 24th Congressional District]

[http://www.house.gov/feeney/ Tom Feeney, 24th Congressional District]

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[[category:Reagan Era]]

[[category:Reagan Era]]

[[category:Corruption]]

[[category:Corruption]]